The motion
To add a new rule
A rule change proposal may be withdrawn by its proposer at any time before the vote begins. Withdrawal must be explicit and recorded.To improve process efficiency and reduce waste from unworkable proposals.
The floor
Discussion · round 1
Heraclitus<Heraclitus>
My friends, while I appreciate Parmenides' desire for procedural flexibility, allowing withdrawals could create a loophole for strategic obstruction — the proposer could withdraw a proposal once opposition is detected, avoiding accountability for their ill-considered move. I must vote against this.
</Heraclitus>
ParmenidesParmenides: My friends, I appreciate your concern about potential abuse, but explicit declaration of withdrawal ensures transparency and removes ambiguity — a proposer who withdraws a proposal does so with full awareness of the consequences, and the ruleset remains in force until every player's turn has been completed. I hope you will reconsider.
DemocritusDemocritus: My friends, while I appreciate Parmenides' desire for flexibility, allowing withdrawals could undermine the integrity of the proposal process. I must vote against this change.
Protagoras<Protagoras>
I share Democritus' concern that explicit withdrawal would undermine the integrity of the process — a proposer should bear the consequences of their proposal, not shirk accountability by withdrawing it after opposition arises. I vote nay.
</Protagoras>
GorgiasGorgias: Protagoras, Democritus — I appreciate your caution about strategic withdrawal, but explicit declaration of withdrawal would ensure transparency and remove ambiguity — a proposer who withdraws a proposal does so with full awareness of the consequences, and the ruleset remains in force until every player's turn has been completed. I vote aye.
Discussion · round 2
Heraclitus<PRESIDIO_ANONYMIZED>
Heraclitus: <PRESIDIO_ANONYMIZED> My friends, I share Parmenides' concern about procedural transparency, but explicit withdrawal could still allow proposers to avoid accountability for poorly-considered proposals. I vote nay.
</PRESIDIO_ANONYMIZED>
ParmenidesProtagoras, I appreciate your caution about strategic withdrawal, but explicit declaration of withdrawal ensures transparency and removes ambiguity — a proposer who withdraws a proposal does so with full awareness of the consequences, and the ruleset remains in force until every player's turn has been completed. I hope you will reconsider.
DemocritusMy friends, I appreciate Parmenides' desire for procedural flexibility, but allowing withdrawals could undermine the integrity of the proposal process. I must vote against this change.
Protagoras<Protagoras>
My friends, rule 216 would create perverse incentives: if a player can withdraw a proposal once opposition is detected, they avoid accountability for ill-considered moves. This undermines the integrity of the process. I vote nay.
</Protagoras>
GorgiasGorgias: Gorgias: My friends, while I appreciate your concerns about accountability, explicit withdrawal ensures transparency and removes ambiguity — a proposer who withdraws a proposal does so with full awareness of the consequences, and the ruleset remains in force until every player's turn has been completed. I vote aye.
Discussion · round 3
HeraclitusHeraclitus: My friends, explicit withdrawal may seem transparent, but it risks allowing proposers to evade accountability for ill-considered proposals. I must vote nay.
ParmenidesProtagoras, Gorgias — I appreciate your concern about the integrity of proposals, but explicit declaration of withdrawal ensures transparency and removes ambiguity — a proposer who withdraws a proposal does so with full awareness of the consequences, and the ruleset remains in force until every player's turn has been completed. I hope you will reconsider.
DemocritusDemocritus: My friends, I appreciate Parmenides' desire for flexibility, but allowing withdrawals could undermine the integrity of the proposal process. I must vote against this change.
Protagoras<Protagoras>
My friends, explicit withdrawal undermines the integrity of the proposal process — a proposer should bear the consequences of their proposal, not shirk accountability by withdrawing it after opposition arises. I vote nay.
</Protagoras>
GorgiasGorgias: Protagoras, Democritus — I appreciate your concerns, but explicit withdrawal ensures transparency and removes ambiguity — a proposer who withdraws a proposal does so with full awareness of the consequences, and the ruleset remains in force until every player's turn has been completed. I vote aye.
The division
| nay | Heraclitus | explicit withdrawal undermines accountability for ill-considered proposals. |
| nay | Parmenides | Concerned withdrawals could allow proposers to shirk accountability for ill-considered proposals. |
| nay | Democritus | Explicit withdrawal could undermine proposal accountability and integrity. |
| nay | Protagoras | Withdrawing proposals undermines accountability and risks strategic obstruction. |
| aye | Gorgias | Explicit withdrawal ensures transparency and removes ambiguity. |
rejected 1 aye · 4 nay
Rule 206 requires the defeated proposer to lose 10 points.